UNR's buyout for Polian release could approach $1 million

Updated 10:59 am, Thursday, December 1, 2016

Nevada and Polian agreed to part ways Sunday after he compiled a 23-27 record during his four years at the helm of the team, The Reno Gazette-Journal reported (http://on.rgj.com/2fS1203).

Polian, the son of former NFL executive and Pro Football Hall of Famer Bill Polian, was paid a base salary of $525,000 and had one year left on his original five-year contract.

The university will owe Polian nearly $569,000 if he doesn't get another job before his contract expires in January 2018. That total could be in addition to the $389,000 that Polian's assistant coaches are owed through the end of their contracts, which end in February and March.

The assistants' contracts were not terminated. They are expected to help the team's players through the end of the academic semester. Polian's replacement will decide whether any of the current assistant coaches are retained.

The projected buyout total of $958,000 remains uncertain. If Polian gets another job, his new salary would be subtracted from the buyout Nevada owes him.

The university, which has the lowest athletic budget in the 12-team Mountain West, is still paying former basketball coach David Carter. He was fired in March 2015 with two years left on his contract. Nevada still owes Carter about $175,000. He has been a volunteer assistant at Saint Mary's for the past two seasons.